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Army officers ‘let down’ soldier over sexual assault claim before she killed herself, court martial told
Prosecutors say the officers downplayed Jaysley Beck’s report of sexual assault, and the Army later apologized after an inquest found the handling contributed to her death.
- On Tuesday, Colonel Samantha Shepherd and Major James Hook went on trial at the Military Court Centre in Catterick, accused of 'conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline' over their handling of a complaint by Gunner Jaysley Beck.
- The prosecution alleges the officers 'let down' Beck, who reported being sexually assaulted by Warrant Officer Michael Webber during a July 2021 training exercise at Thorney Island in Hampshire.
- Commander Paul Patterson, prosecuting, claimed Hook failed to treat the report 'in a manner consistent with its seriousness,' while Shepherd 'deliberately misreported what she had been told' to Captain Mae King.
- Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges; Webber was jailed for six months last year after admitting the offence against Beck, who died in December 2021.
- An inquest into Beck's death found the mishandling of her complaint played 'more than a minimal contributory part into her death,' prompting an apology from the Army.
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18 Articles
Swindon Advertiser+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Teenage soldier 'let down' by senior officers in Wiltshire
Teenage soldier was 'let down' by senior officers in Wiltshire, a court heard.
·Swindon, United Kingdom
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The IndependentReposted by 
The Independent (US)
The Independent (US)Army officer found not guilty over handling of Jaysley Beck assault
Crown concludes there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to convict Colonel Samantha Shepherd
·London, United Kingdom
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Evening StandardReposted by 
perspectivemedia.com
perspectivemedia.comColonel cleared of charge relating to teen soldier Jaysley Beck, who later died
Colonel Samantha Shepherd was on trial at the Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison.
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 19%
C 56%
R 25%
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